Suddenly he felt the wind blowing behind his back.

The floating leaves were not making a sound, not following the wind’s command. He knew it was time, he knew it would happen, he knew the consequences, and yet, fear took over.

The wind’s whistles slowly disappeared, and he lost sight of the dark forest trees surrounding him.

It must’ve felt weird, being all your senses numb; fading into the void, until all came back. It was a matter of milliseconds before it appeared before him. The Infinite Castle, bigger than 8 million Shiro’s, it is said.

He was flung into a room, surrounded by Tatami walls, and a door in front of him, but that room was the only room he recognized as a room in his time in the castle. Opening the door he unveiled a planet of infinite halls stacked together, with walls acting as the floor, roofs as doors and stairs as windows. In the span of seconds, he had seen an infinite possibility for how that 4 walled room could look like. This time, he felt no wind or chill, but a simple sound of drums beating and a gentle pull of gravity into what is the throne room.

The room smelled of winter, wet snow and earthy, smoky wood. On a platform made from the richest bamboo flooring, he sees the twelve moons all bowing down. A glance to his left he witnesses true evil standing above them; on a floating staircase made of obsidian-like metal, a slim and small-figured woman sat on a white throne. her hair representing her chair's appearance well and her eyes red as blood. She wore a top hat small in comparison to her head, not that her head was big or anything.

“Hey guys! Let's cut to the chase, shall we?” her high-pitched voice echoes through the throne room and the grin on her face widens even more.

“You all know why you have been summoned here.”

her voice dropped a channel, the air was filled with her bloodlust, and even the floor started creaking like a fork being dragged on a plate. “The twelve moons I called you, such a beautiful name, don't you agree?” She lets the staggering silence take over, and moment after moment, another drop of sweat was sounded hitting the floor from every demon present. “Maybe I never actually needed you… as a matter of fact, I can't even remember why you all exist!” She starts laughing, the pitch of her voice is of another continent, wheezing with every breath, sending waves across the room with each laugh.

“if you all are just going to run away every time you see a slayer…” She said while relieving her chaotic laugh.

“or am I wrong, dear Eight?” She takes a few moments to stabilize her pitch, in front of her platform the twelve strongest demons were all trembling simultaneously, with Eight shivering the most.

“Eight… such an impactful name, don't you think? It represents infinity...” Her gaze stabs felt like a knife had gone through him.

Then, his mouth starts moving while his lips tremble “B-boss! I promise you it won't happen again! It happened only b-because of my hunger! Yes, that is all! Because of my hunger.” Eight slowly raises his look to face his queen.

“Is that so? Alright, I understand.” She starts aggressively scratching her cheeks and adds “What then, oh my wise vassal, would you have me do differently, that would make sure for such a thing to never happen again?” her malicious screechy voice deafens even the earless “What do you suggest for us, as a family, to do so no demon would ever fear a human as much as you feared that pathetic excuse of a slayer, Takemori?”

She looks Eight straight in the eye. It was the first time Eight had ever locked eyes with the queen.

“Agnii-Sama! I am glad you understand my fears, why yes! I do have some suggestions!” He stands up, he seems like a dog wagging his tail with the way he wore that wide grin. “Maybe if you could spare me some of your blood… yes, your blo-”

Eight’s sentence is cut short by the sudden detachment of his head from his body, his head now lying on Agni’s hands, blood spurting on her pale skin. “So, my dear eleven moons, what do you think I should do with our sweet Touya?”

Silence conquers the room, so much so that every drop of blood echoed throughout the infinite hallways. “I think you should burn him until his body is unrecognizable, but forgive his sins. For you are a most merciful god, a most forgiving being, but not forgetful and neglecting." It was Upper Moon Four who broke the silence.

“I think you should just hang him until the sun rises, it is much easier.” Lower Moon Seven says.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Maybe throw him to the slayers he fears so much?” adds Lower Moon Twelve.

“These are all wonderful suggestions… but I have a better idea. I think I will give him the blood he so desires, give him another chance at redemption. What do you say, my sweet little Touya?” Agni turns her gaze towards Touya, his eyes brighten and his face bears a smile “Agni-sama! Thank you, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, you are truly a most merciful god!”

“Okay then! Granted!” Agni stabs Touya’s face with her finger, blood starts pumping into him, and with each glitter, Touya inflates little by little,

Until eventually,

He implodes.

“PHAHAHA” Agni’s devilish laugh echoes like bells on a cold Christmas Eve. “See, you got your precious blood and still failed. You all are not needed after all.”

Agni faces the rest of the demons and adds “You see how merciful I am? But even in my mercy, you lose all gratitude. What shame, you lot think you could order me? Calling me ‘boss’, making demands, not to mention speaking without permission… stopped bowing without any second thoughts!” Agni’s face fills with veins and reddens “Oh how have I spoiled you… YOU LOT ARE LIKE CHIMERA ANTS TO THEIR QUEEN! YOUR JOB IS TO BE MY VASSAL, SERVE ME! SACRIFICE FOR ME!”

It was as if their mind shattered like struck glass, and together everyone stuck their head to the ground, as if gravity had doubled.

“I am not your boss, or lord, or even queen. I am your god, and as your god, you should fear only me.”

“Since Touya was the Eighth moon, all moons below his rank are not needed anymore.”

Before they even could gasp for air, Moons nine, ten, eleven, and twelve all explode from the inside out, leaving only seven Demon Moons.

“Now, our new order has changed to seven… I shall call you lot by a different name. you all are my sins, my mistakes, and for being my sins, I will give you a fitting name.” She takes a moment to think, then says “My seven sins! My capital vices! Yes, The Capital Vices.”

She calms her voice, her eyes go half crossed, she removes her blue tophat and stands up from her throne “Another opportunity to prove your worth… if you fail, there won't be any more”

Suddenly, the castle becomes the local Shiro, and Agni disappears with the sound of a drum.

“So… Mr. Takamori, I heard you talking yesterday, if I remember correctly,” Shou mumbled, but clearly Takemori was not in the same rhythm.

Shou flusters “Ahm! You talked about me. You mentioned my brother? Also, how do you know my parents? You mentioned the corps… are you talking about the Demon Slayer corps? I know my father served them. Am I also to serve there? Can I go on adventures too?”

“Shou… calm down I just woke up.” Mr. Takamori’s grogginess is as grotesque as it can get. “I am calm,” Shou responds, wearing the proudest face “also… you promised that if I took you here you would teach me how you killed that thing.”

“Hah! What are you, a child?”

“Mr. Takamori… I am nine years old.”

Realization hits like a lowball, and Mr.Takemori tenses up.

“Are you sure…”

“Huh? I think I have misheard you, Mr.Takemori.”

“Don't worry about it” Takemori shakes his head trying to lift his senses from the ground “in any case, where is your mother?”

Shou’s cheeks puff and his eyebrows furrow “I think she’s out digging a grave for my father… but how is that important right now?! You just keep avoiding my questions… it just makes you more suspicious!”

“Eh? What do you mean by more?” Awkward silence fills the aroma “Sigh, be patient, you will get your answers. Now, if you don't mind, I will go look for your mother, you should probably go home, your sister is waiting with your food.”

Shou glances at Takemori from the side, confused.

“Yeah, you're right… how did you know my sister was cooking?”

Takamori gives a proud grin “I smelled it!”

‘We are pretty far away though…’ Shou thinks, eyebrows raised and all, staring at Takemori in disgust.

“Hey, how have you been holding up?” Takemori waves at Helen, wearing his abnormal smirk and wreaking of yeast and malt. Next to the Temple, there was a hole, and there Helen stood, with Shovel and her tacky white dress covered in dirt.

“Oh! Heijirou! I'm almost finished with the burial, would you mind giving me a hand?” Helen doesn’t even bother to meet his eye.

“Back to first names now, are we Helen?” a few moments of silence, interrupted only by the wind.

“I caught that smirk of yours… so you must be getting better.” his eyes calm, but his arms crossed and his legs were stomping the ground impatiently. It lasted about fifteen seconds.

Mr. Takamori then gets into the grave and starts digging with her. “Are you still planning to take him with you?” She asks.

“Well… not if his mother won’t allow it.” Helen turns from shovelling for a moment to snap a look at Mr. Takemori, his face was calm at a glance, but deep within his yellow eyes there was a hidden ambition, she knew.

“It is up to him to decide.” She goes back to digging not paying attention to Takemori’s intense glowing eyes pointing at her. “Why the change of heart?” Takemori asks, his shining grin makes him seem drunk with emotions.